Rosters Announced for 2014 USA Pro Challenge

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Rosters Announced for 2014 USA Pro Challenge

Leading pro cyclists, including Defending Champion Tejay van Garderen, set to take part in the 2014 USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado later this month.

With an impressive lineup of some of the top professional cyclists in the world, the provisionary team rosters for the 2014 USA Pro Challenge were released earlier today. Rosters include Pro Challenge defending champion and fifth-place finisher in last month’s Tour de France Tejay van Garderen, as well as 2014 Tour de France KOM Jersey winner Rafał Majka and teammate and Tour de France stage winner Michael Rogers.

With a history of attracting some of the world’s top professional cyclists to Colorado, this year's USA Pro Cycling Challenge will take place August 18-24 and will travel through ten official host cities on a scenic tour of the famed Colorado Rockies.

"I’m really looking forward to defending my race title in Colorado this month," BMC Racing Team's Tejay van Garderen commented from his home in Aspen, Colorado. "Because this year's USA Pro Challenge starts in my hometown, it’s different and more relaxed. To race in front of my family and friends is always special. We are bringing a really motivated team and with a summit finish this year, it promises to be another hard race.”

Hot off this year's Tour de France, many riders are in their peak form and are set to be strong competitors in the Pro Challenge. Three riders competing in the 2014 Pro Challenge finished in the top-12 places at the 2014 Tour de France, including van Garderen in fifth, Leopold König in seventh and Frank Schleck in 12th. Majka, who took the KOM Jersey at this year’s Tour de France and also won two stages, will be racing in Colorado. Additionally, the race also will feature two riders who finished on the podium in previous editions of the Tour de France – Ivan Basso, who also is a two-time Giro d’Italia winner, and Frank Schleck – and multiple riders who've captured a stage win – Jens Voigt, Basso, Schleck, Rogers and Majka.

"In less than two weeks the USA Pro Challenge will kick off in Aspen and the best of the best in professional cycling will charge the streets of Colorado,” commented Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge. “The race features riders from all over the world and a diverse roster of talent ranging from established veterans to the new generation of incredibly talented young guys. The competition this year will be tough and it’s going to be a great show for fans around the world."

The current and former USPRO National Champions in road race will line up in Colorado (Eric Marcotte – 2014, Fred Rodriguez– 2013). In addition to Marcotte, the race will include three other current national champions – Schleck (LUX), Hayden Roulston (NZL) and Riccardo Zoidl (AUT). Other known international riders competing in the 2014 Pro Challenge include current junior world champion Matej Mohorič, Tour of Slovania winner Tiago Machado, Columbian climbing sensation Janier Acevedo, as well as Denmark's Michael Mørkøv and Matthew Lloyd, who both won stages in the Giro d’Italia.

The 2014 USA Pro Challenge will include five of the top-six finishers from last year's thrilling edition of the race,